Following the dwindling resources arising from the decreasing Federal allocation to the state, the Kogi State Government has announced a 40 percent slash in the salary of its workers.
The government said the move was part of its measures to meet commitment on the infrastructural development in the state; and necessary in the face of the dwindling federal monthly allocation to the state.
The salary cut also affected pensioners, appointed Commissioners, Special Advisers and all other appointed officials, but will not be implemented on staff on grade level 1-6 and Special Assistants.
The State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada said the development will enable the State Government to pay salary to all workers rather than owe back log of salary.
Vanguard gathered that the State Government allocation from the government averaged N3.7 billion in the past, however received N2.5 billion for the month of April, while its monthly wage bill stands at N3.2 billion.
Reacting to the announcement, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kogi state has threatened to shut down the state if the state government refuses to rescind on his plan to cut down the April salaries of the state civil servants.
The leadership of the Union said they have met with the State Governor, Idris Wada on the government’s plan to cut salaries state worker by 40 percent, warned that any attempt by State Government to pay 60 percent salaries to the workers for the month of April, would be deemed as a bonus to workers.
The Labour who made this known through its latest bulletin issued on Wednesday and signed by the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Onuh Edoma, TUC state Chairman, Comrade Abdulazez Ganiyu and JNC Chairman, Comrade Aaron Ameji said the union and the workers would not accept any payment short of 100 percent salary payment for
the month of April 2015